FAFSA Completion Guide

Guide to Filling out FAFSA

1. CREATE AN ACCOUNT FEDERAL STUDENT AID “FSA” ID

An FSA ID is a username and password you use on Federal Student Aid websites such as fafsa.gov and StudentLoans.gov. If you or your child are considered a dependent student, two unique FSA IDs are needed to complete the FAFSA form online:

5. ANSWER THE DEPENDENCY STATUS QUESTIONS

6. FILL OUT THE PARENT DEMOGRAPHICS SECTION

This is where parents’ demographic information is provided.

7. SUPPLY YOUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION

In this section, you’ll first be asked to provide parent financial information. This step is simple if you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT), which returned with the 2018–19 FAFSA form on Oct. 1, 2017, with additional security and privacy protections added.

8. SIGN YOUR OR YOUR CHILD’S FAFSA® FORM

You’re not finished with the FAFSA form until you and your child sign it. The easiest way to sign your child’s FAFSA form is online with your FSA ID. If your child is not present, after you sign your child’s FAFSA form with your FSA ID, save and exit the application and instruct your child to log into fafsa.gov to sign and submit his or her FAFSA form.